Say what you want about UConn coach Bob Diaco's desire to create a rivalry with Central Florida, but he is not backing down.

The Huskies' second-year coach knew exactly what he was doing when the football office pushed out a tweet hyping a rivalry game with two-time defending American Athletic Conference champion UCF, even though it wasn't officially agreed on by the two sides and was criticized by some.

The tweet was sent June 1, a slow time for college football and an even slower one if your team hasn't been to a bowl game since 2011 and won just two games last season.

"I was excited that on, whatever, June 2, we were talking about UConn football," Diaco said Monday during a media conference call. "Rivalries need to start somewhere. Somebody calls out somebody, and I think it's fun and exciting. I think it's definitely going to add a layer of energy and excitement to our contest on [Oct. 10]. I don't think there's any way you can argue that even if it's just a small, little amount. Whether the trophy is honored, it's honored by us, so you don't have control over that, so who cares? They don't get to say whether they're our rival or not. We might not be their rival, but they don't get to say whether they're our rival. That's for us to decide, so for us it's plain and clear, because those are things we have control over.

"I think it's fun. If you embrace it, you embrace it. If you don't, you don't. There was nothing before, so if you don't embrace it, there would still be nothing, and if you do even a little bit, it's more energetic and exciting. And to me that's what college football is. College football is intercollegiate and rivalries and challenges and fun storylines."

BC coach Steve Addazio would like to see it. He's from Connecticut, and his father Louis earned multiple degrees from UConn.

"I think it would be great if we played UConn," Addazio said. "I believe...

At some point, there likely will be a UConn-Boston College football game again, but the question is when.

BC coach Steve Addazio would like to see it. He's from Connecticut, and his father Louis earned multiple degrees from UConn.

"I think it would be great if we played UConn," Addazio said. "I believe...

(DESMOND CONNER)

UConn's tweet read, "First day back on campus for #UConnFootball! And just 130 days until the next Civil Conflict with @UCF_Football!" It also showed a trophy with the team logos and the score of last year's game, which UConn won 37-29 at Rentschler Field, the only league loss pinned on the Knights in two seasons. It was the Huskies' lone Division I-A win under Diaco in 2014. UConn went 2-10 and UCF 9-4.

So Diaco did the calling out, even if Central Florida has not answered, except to say it had no knowledge of the tweet or any arrangements to play for a trophy. There was some light discussion about it after last year's game, but nothing was firm.

Two years ago, the Knights pounded UConn 62-17 in Orlando. And now they have more motivation.

UConn beat Central Florida 37-29 last season at Rentschler...

(DESMOND CONNER)

"Yeah, here's the deal," he said. "Why do I have to call their athletic department to say we've got them targeted as our rival, period? What control over that would they have? And what do I care what they think. ... If they don't want to honor our rivalry and we're not their rival, that's on them. I don't control what they want. They don't want to be a part of the trophy. I don't care about that, either."

UCF beat UConn 62-17 in Orlando two seasons ago. Asked why that 45-point UConn loss wasn't added to the trophy, Diaco said because he wasn't at UConn yet.

Court Date For McQuillan

Senior tight end Sean McQuillan is scheduled to appear in Superior Court of Rockville Tuesday to face a second degree assault charge stemming from a fight with his roommate in April.

Diaco said McQuillan is out of school but going through an appeals process.

"I'm clued in because they try to keep me in the loop as it pertains to the court, but I'm more clued in to the university process because we're all working together. He's in an appeal process with the school," Diaco said. "Right now he's not allowed to be a student. He's in appeals process, and that shouldn't take too much longer I wouldn't think."

Spring Training

The Huskies are training.

"We've got eight hours [in a week], and you're not allowed to use more than that," Diaco said. "On Monday they [lift weights] ... and it's really kind of fun. I'm constantly talking about messaging, imaging, breathing and self-control and kind of harnessing that power. We have an expert now that comes in at 4:30, and she is fantastic. She does yoga with the whole team, and they meditate and stretch. It was a neat thing last Monday."

The players report Aug. 6, and camp opens Aug. 7. Diaco said he wants to develop a camp feel through Aug.12 in which practices will not be open to the media. ... Thirty-one football players made the honor roll last semester, including safeties Andrew Adams and Obi Melifonwu, defensive lineman Folorunso Fatukasi and linebacker Marquise Vann. Offensive linemen Steve Hashemi and Brendan Vechery also were on the list. Vechery, a sophomore and preferred walk-on awarded a scholarship after last season, was on academic probation. Punter Justin Wain, receiver John-Luke Bogue and defensive lineman Sean Marinan had 4.0 grade point averages.

"It's the most we've had on the honor roll in the last 14 years," Diaco said. "That kind of systemic change happens because they want to do it for themselves." ... Speaking of systemic changes, Diaco intends to make a big one in allowing media to attend practices from start to finish with few boundaries. That's not only unprecedented at UConn but at most FBS and FCS schools, too. "I think what we do is worth seeing on a day-to-day basis, and I want to help you guys do your work." That new policy kicks in Aug. 29; it is for the regular season, not summer camp. UConn's opener is Sept. 3 at 7:30 p.m. vs. Villanova at Rentschler Field. ... The program is hosting its second Women's Football 101 Friday at 5:30 p.m. at the Burton Family Complex and Shenkman Training Center on campus. Participants will have a cocktail hour, silent auction and meet-and-greet before taking the field with the team for light drills and on-field fun. All participants are asked to wear athletic clothing and shoes to the clinic. Register at uconnhuskies.com.